Solutions are given for the interaction between a three-level system and two arbitrarily intense fields symmetrically detuned from the corresponding atomic resonances. The method uses a wave function and is substantially simpler than the density-matrix Bloch-vector analysis of Brewer and Hahn. It is also less general in that the level ($T_1$) lifetimes have to be taken equal to the dipole ($T_2$) lifetimes, and in that nonzero steady-state level populations cannot be obtained in the presence of this damping.

• Received 11 December 1975

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.13.1962